[094-168v]

20 Feb y 1808

Reasons necessary

1. Principles

5. Where no elucidation in the character of a reason is assred /accompanies the law/ - no indication of the particular objects or ends to which it is directed, any /every/ little want of provisioin or particularisation /specification/ is /may be/ sufficient to throw a cloud of obscurity over the intention of the legislation, and consequently /thence/ over the import of the law. Then comes litigation upon litigation, decision upon decision, each decision thickening the cloud, and rendering /making/ obscurity more obscure.

Let the legislator lay open /clearly/ to view the considerations by which in the character of reasons his pen was guided, the formation of these /all such/ clouds, is anticipated and prevented.

In such case to change the [...?] and say that reasons /a reason/ annext to a law serve /serves/ as a key to the true import of it, is hardly doing justice to the utility of the practice /appendage/ in this point of view: a key supposes a door, and that door shut and locked. But a reason or set of reasons plainly /simply/ stated, render the import from the first accessible without effot, no key, no lock, no door, nor[?] any thing /other intervening reason[?]/ due[?] between the import of the law and the eye of him whose obedience is called for by it, and of him for whom benefit /whose benefit it has in view/ was made.

to [...?] /[...?]/ use of the practice of annexing /subjoining/ reasons to a law throwing light upon the import of it/ obviating doubts concerning the impart of it/.